Among our company values is a simple statement: We operate our business ethically. This value is at the heart of all of our corporate responsibility efforts. To support it, we’ve established strong policies and processes, as well as a comprehensive governance structure led by our Board of Directors and spanning all levels of the organization.

In addition to matters addressed by the full Board of Directors, Board oversight is also contributed through six standing committees, including the Corporate Responsibility Committee. This Committee acts in an advisory capacity to the Company’s management regarding policies and strategies that affect McDonald’s role as a socially responsible organization, such as issues related to product safety, workplace safety, employee opportunities and training, diversity, the environment and sustainable supply chain initiatives. These issues are important to the McDonald’s System and a wide range of external stakeholders, including our customers. As such, ongoing dialogue at the highest levels of the company is critical.

At the corporate level, McDonald’s also has a collective of cross-functional and issue-specific governing bodies that monitor and manage issues on a day-to-day basis.

• Worldwide Corporate Relations Council – Guides and aligns issue positions, approaches and communications across McDonald’s System related to social and environmental issues
  


• Corporate Social Responsibility Department – Provides corporate staff leadership, coordination and support for our global corporate social responsibility policies, programs and reporting
  


• Quality Systems Board – Leads the development and execution of worldwide food quality strategies, including food safety, and includes senior-level supply chain and food safety specialists and QA directors from each of our major geographic sectors
  


• Sustainable Supply Steering Committee – Guides the development of the strategies and tools necessary to accomplish McDonald’s vision of a sustainable supply system
  


• Global Environmental Council – Identifies global strategic environmental priorities and acts as a forum for best practice sharing on local environmental initiatives and programs

To learn more about McDonald’s business and profile, take a look at our 2010 Annual Report.